Brad Richards will wear number 19 for the Rangers when they kick off their season in Stockholm this October. Richards wore #19 with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the majority of his career, before switching to #91 in the 2007-08 season. He continued to wear #91 when he was traded to the Dallas Stars.
The change means Ruslan Fedotenko will switch back to #26, which he’s worn with the Flyers, Islanders and Penguins. Fedotenko chose #19 when he joined the Rangers last year – the only time he’s worn the number – because Erik Christensen was already assigned #26.
In turn Christensen will now wear #40, which was last worn by Steve Valiquette in the 2009-10 season, but hasn’t been used by a non-goalie since Jay More wore it back in 1996-97.
Finally Mike Rupp will wear #71, the first player to do so in a Rangers sweater.
Associated Links:
Rangers who’ve wore #19
Rangers who’ve wore #26
Rangers who’ve wore #40
PHI
WSH
CBJ